Shinedown are finally making their way back to El Paso and they’re not coming alone. It’s going to be a helluva night with them, 2 other bands and a DJ. (Not me.)<\/p>\n
August 2nd, Shinedown<\/a> play the Don Haskins Center, tickets<\/a> are on sale now. From Ashes To New<\/a> along with\u00a0Coheed And Cambria<\/a> and DJ Rock Feed<\/a>.<\/p>\n Don’t worry, he’s a cool DJ. Not one of those “wear a weird outfit and play the same techno beat all night” guys; this dude sticks to rock and metal.<\/p>\n It’s been about 8 years since Shinedown<\/a> were last here, rocking “the rock” at Speaking Rock. Their first visit to El Paso goes back much farther.<\/p>\n When Did Shinedown First Play El Paso?<\/p>\n The first time Shinedown came to town, they didn’t exactly play in El Paso. They headlined the KLAQ Balloonfest at Wet ‘n Wild<\/a> in Anthony in the early 2000’s and left me with 2 very cool memories.<\/p>\n READ MORE: Powerman 5000, Chevelle and Soil Also Rocked Balloonfest\u00a0<\/a><\/p>\n Singer Brent Smith didn’t come in with the rest of the band, opting to arrive later in the day. While the park was in high gear. His cab pulled up to the front gate, where he was, (of course), recognized and a crowd surrounded the car.<\/p>\n I had to somehow get him through a frenzied crowd of fans so I gathered up 5 or 6 cops and deputies who surrounded us and half escorted\/half shoved us through the crowd from the front gate to the backstage area. It was crazy … madness, if you will.<\/p>\n The other memory had to do with their guitarist, (at the time), Jasin Todd<\/a>‘s girlfriend, (eventual wife), Melody Van Zant.<\/p>\n Yep, one of those Van Zants … daughter of Lynyrd Skynyrd<\/a> frontman Ronnie Van Zant and niece of .38 Special guitarist Donnie Van Zant and solo artist\/future Skynyrd frontman Johnny Van Zant.<\/p>\n That relationship and the close bond it created between the band and the Van Zant family is what cleared the way for them to cover that Skynyed classic<\/p>\n